Emotional balance

Beyond physical allergen factors that trigger a crisis, it's known that emotional tension can also play a factor in triggering an allergic reaction. Breathing, relaxation, visualization and meditation techniques can be beneficial exercises for preventing and relieving symptoms.

+ Learning how to relax is fundamental to treating allergies. And a key to relaxation is proper breathing techniques. There are three basic types of breathing: abdominal and diaphragmatic breathing; thoracic breathing; and clavicular or collarbone breathing. Complete breathing unites the three techniques and increases lung capacity. This is why these exercises are specifically recommended for allergy sufferers. They also help your overall well-being and increase the strenght of your immune system.

BREATHING

∎ Abdominal or diaphragmatic breathing

Lie down on the floor with your hands on your abdomen. Take a deep breath, inhaling slowly through your nose and send the air to the bottom of your lungs, expanding your abdomen, concentrating your energy in that area. Hold your breath for a few seconds. Then slowly exhale, contracting your abdomen.

∎ Thoracic breathing

In the same position, place your hands over the thorax and concentrate on the energy in this area. Without moving your abdomen, take a deep breath and note how your ribs rise and your chest expands as the air enters.

∎ Clavicular or collarbone breathing

Using the same position, place your hands on your upper chest or on the collarbone. Inhale and exhale through the nose, paying attention to how it feels when the air lifts your ribs, collarbone and shoulders. (The body does not take in sufficient oxygen with this type of breathing, so it's best not to practice this exercise for very long.)

∎ Complete breathing

Complete breathing is a combination of abdominal breathing, thoracic breathing and clavicular breathing.

First, inhale and bring the air to the bottom of your lungs, then to your thorax and finally to your upper chest. Exhale in the same order, letting the air out of the bottom of your lungs, thorax and finally the upper chest.

POWER OF THE IMAGINATION

Creative visualization uses the imagination to create situations and ideal conditions for the mind. Conscious and continuos practice of visualization helps to establish clear connections between dreams and desires. This helps to relax the mind and physical condition, providing relief of physical allergic reaction symptoms such as difficulty breathing, itchiness or sneezing. In addition to visualizing a beautiful and calm place, you can also imagine and create your desired health. Visualizing the entire respiratory process and each one of the organs functioning in complete harmony. The same visualization can work for skin allergies such as eczema. Scientific studies have shown that these types of creative visualization techniques fortify the immune system.

MEDITATION

This technique is recommended for reaching internal harmony. These are a number of the benefits of meditation:

1. • Helps to reduce the flow of negative thoughts and emotions.
2. • Reduces your anxiety and stress level.
3. • Increases self-actualization to explore your inner feelings and states.
4. • Deepens a connection with the realm of the spiritual.
5. • Regular practice (requires a meditation guide at the beginning) can contribute to an individual's psychological and physiological well-being. The practice can reduce blood pressure and relieve pain and stress.